Ironing and aerating press



Jan. 17, 1933. -c. o. REEPs I 1,894,422

IRONING AND AERATING PRESS l Filed Jan. 2. i930 s sheets-sheet 1 -llllH l Jan. 17, 1933.

c o. REEPS IRONING AND AERATING PRESS Filed Jan. 2. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 rzVEz-fz/Er section; y

Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES y i,s94,422

PATENT OFFICE CHARLES O.- REPS, DECEASED, LATE OF WAUKEGANQ ILLINOIS, BY HARRIETTE ESTELLE REEPS, EXECUTRIX, F WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, INC., 0F SYRACUSE, NEW-YORK, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE IBONING AND AERATING PRESS Application filed January 2, 1930. Serial No. 418,118.

This invention relates to ironing presses andparticularly to that type disclosed in the copending application of Charles 0. Reeps, Serial No. 386,339, ledugust 16th, 1929, in which type provision is made for aerating the goods to be ironed on a ballooned padding preparatory for the nal ironing operation. f

An important object of this invention is toprovide means pneumatically operated to irst bring the ironing members into full pressure engagement with the workl to vbe ironed, then to relieve the pressure for the ballooning and aerating treatment of the work, and then to reapply the full ironing pressure.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a novel process of ironing an article which contemplates' initially subjecting the article to the heat and pressure oi' the ironing head and then raising the head slightly to aerate the article before the application of a final pressure thereto. It is thought that this novel process will be understood from a de-l scription of an apparatus by which it may be practiced. r

The various features of the invention are incorporated in the structure disclosed on the drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ironing machine with the ironing members in vertical Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the buck structure showing the' arrangement of the padding thereon; v

Figure 3 is 'a diagrammatic view showing the pneumatic operating parts and the air circuits and controls therefor in normal position; Figure 4 is a similar diagrammatic view showing the parts in position for the ull pressure cooperation of the ironing members;

Figure 5 is a similar diagrammatic View showing the parts in position for the aerating cooperation of the ironing members;

Figure 6 is asimilar diagrammatic view .showing the ironing members positioned in full pressure applying cooperation; and

Figure 7 shows details of valve operation.

T he machine-shown comprises'a supporting framework 10 having the top wall 411 on which is mounted the supporting pedestal 12 for the buck structure 13. llovable abovethe buck structure is the ironing head 14 supported atthe front end of the frame 15 which is hinged by the pin 16 to the lug 17 forming part of the machine framework. The ironing head 14 has the heating space 18 through which heating medium, such as steam, may be circulated to heat the head, insulation 19 being provided to prevent dissipation of the heat and for localizing it on the ironing surface of the head.

The buck 13 has the air chamber 20 through which extends the steam pipe 21..

Surrounding thel chamber is the peripheral channel 23, and covering the chamber and the channel is a plate 24 having perforatons 25 communicating with the chamber and perforations 26 communicating with the peripheral channel. Padding'27 extends across the plate 24 and is secured at its edges against the sides ofthe buck by a suitable strap or clamp 28. The padding is pliable and flexible so that it may be readily raised or ballooned over plate 24.

Within the framework 10 is supported a blower 29 driven by a suitable motor 30. The buck supporting pedestal has two conduits 31 and 32 eitending therethrough. the conduit 31 connecting the outlet vof the blower with the chamber in the buck, and the. conduit 32 connecting the blower inlet with a transverse passage 33 through the buck leading to the'peripheral chamber 23. Air is circulated through the chamber and channel of the buck and this air is heated by engagement with the steam piping 21, and being under pressure it will impinge against the buck .paddling through the perforations and will tend to raise or balloonthe padding so that articleson the padding will be applied with uniform pressure against the face of the ironing head when the head and buck are brought into cooperation. The padding may be sufficiently pervious for the escape of part of the heated air. which air will circulate through and hasten the drying of the work on the padding.

Means are provided for automatically controlling the circulation of the heated air through the buck when the frame l5 supporting the ironing head is swung downwardly. As shown a mercury switch 34 is pivoted on a bracket 35 mounted on the hub 17, a lever 36 extending from the switch and carrying a counterweight 37. An arm 38 mounted on the rear end of the frame 15 becomes displaced from the weight 37 when the frame 15 isswung upwardly so that then the weight can tilt the switch to open the circuit for the motor 30, the supply leads foi1 the motor extending through a cable 39. When the lever 36 is swung to bring the ironing head into ironing cooperation with the buck the arm 38 en a es the counterweightand causes tilting o t e mercury switch for connection of the motor circuit so that the air circulation is started.

For swinging the frame 15 toggle mechanism 1s provided comprising an upper link 40 which is longitudinally adjustable by means of a turnbuckle screw 41, and a lower link 42 hinged by the pin 43 to the framework 10. A frame 44 is hinged at. its rear end by a pin 45 tothe framework 10 and "its front end carries a weight 46 which is connected by bars 47 with ears 48 depending'from the rear end of the lframe 15, the Weight tending to swing the frame 15 to lift the ironing head awayl from the ironing buck.

For controlling the operation of the toggle mechanism and thereby the swing of the ironing head supporting frame 15, means are employed controlled by fluid under pressure operating devices is controlled by valve such as air.l A main cylinder structure C comprises a head 49 from which extends the rear cylinder 50 `and the front cylinder 51. The piston 52 of cylinder 50 is connected. by its rod 52 with the lower toggle link 42. Thepiston 53 has a rod 54 terminating in an eye 55 by means of which it is hingedly anchored to a bracket 55 secured to the front wall of the machine framework 10. At the outer end of cylinder 50 'is the restricted vent 57, and the cylinder '51 has a restricted vent 58. An auxiliary or timing cylinder 59 has a piston 60 from which extends the piston rod 61. At its outer end this cylinder has a vent 62.

The fluid flow to the various pneumatic structures which may be mounted on a panel 63 at the front of the machine and protected by a housing 64 through which extend the various operatinglevers for the valve structures in positions to be readily manipulated by the operator.` r1`here are three valve structures A, B,-and D adapted for manual operation by the operator. For this purpose the valves A and B have) the operating levers 65 and 66. The valvefD has the manual operating lever 67 secured on a shaft 68 and having a cam projection 69 for engaging with the stem 70 of the valve. to cause opening thereof. the valve being self-closing when Lacasse the cam extension is removed therefrom. The shaft 68 also carries an arm 71 connected at its end with the piston rod 61 extending from the timing cylinder 59. The connection between the arm 71 and the piston rod 61 is preferably a loose connection in order that the valve may be manually controlled by the lever 67 independently ,of the operation of the timing cylinder A59. F or this purpose a link 72 is interposed which has the bore 73 into which the piston rod 61 extends so that the link and consequently the arm 71 will not be moved until the piston rod 61 reachesv the upper end of the bore 7-3. With this arrangement When the lever 67 is depressed to open the valve D the arm and link can move independently of the piston rod 61.

A reservoir 74 for fluid under pressure is connected through a shutoff valve 75 with a distributing ycoupling 76 from which a pipe 77 extends'to the frame 78 of the valve A. The rotary valve member 79 has the diametrically opposite passageways o r ports'80 and 81 each adapted to span 90. Diametrically opposite the connection of the pipe 77 with the valve frame 78 a pipe 82 extends from the valve frame and connects with the frame 83 of the valve B whose rotary valve member 84 has the diametrically opposite valve passageways or ports 85 and 86 each adapted to span 90. Diametrically opposite the connection of they ipe 82 with the Valve frame 83 a vent ypipe 8 the frame.

Midway vbetween the connections of the pipes 77 and 82 with the valve frame 7 8 a pipe 88 extends from the frame to the frame 83 of the valve B midway between Ithe connections of the pipes 82 and 87 Diametrically opposite the connection of the pipe 88 a pipe 89 extends from the frame 83 to the cylinder 50 near the outer end thereof. g

A pipe 90 extends from the distributing coupling 76 to the valve frame 78 ata, point diametrlcally opposite the connection of the pipe 88 with the frame. '1,he pipe 90 includes a hand valve 91 and a pressure reducing valve 92.` A branch pipe 93 extends from the pipe 82 and communicates throu h the port 94 with the inner end of the cyhnder 50 behind to atmosphere extends from its piston 52. A pipe 95 extends from the pipe 88 and communicates through lthe port 96 with the cylinder 51 behind its piston 53.

the cylinder 51 and leads to the bottom of the timing cylinder 59 through a reducing valve )102 which is bridged bya check, valve 103,-

this check valve preventing ow into the cylinder but permitting liow therefrom.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Normally, as indicated in Figure 3, the valve A is closed and the valve B is open, while the valve D is closed to atmosphere. The toggle mechanism is normally retracted and the frame 15 is in position to hold the ironing head 14 away from. the buck 13. The operator irst spreads on the buck structure the article to be ironed and then with one hand she opens the valve A and with the other hand she closes the valve B, the valve settings being then as shown in Figure 4. Air now iows from the reservoir 7 4 through the pipe and-the reducing valve 92 to the valve A. and through the valve port 81 to the pipe 82 and from' there through --the pipe 93 into the cylinder 50 behind the piston 52. 0n account of the reducing valve.92 this air flow is under reduced pressure. At the same time air under full pressure Hows from the reservoir through pipe 77., through the valve port 80, to the pipe 88 and from there through pipe into the cylinder 51 behind the piston 53. flhe air flow into cylinder 50 will cause this piston 52 to be projected outwardly, while the air flow under higher pressure into the cylinder 51, acting against the anchored piston 53, will cause the entire cylinder structure C to be shifted rearwardly relative to the piston 53 and the result is that the toggle structure is shifted the ull distance and the frame 15 is swung to bring the ironing head 14 into ironing engagement with the buck structure 13, as indicated in full line'in Figure 1. For the operation justdescribed the setting of the valve B from its normally open position to its closed position is compulsory. It this valve had not been closed when the valve A was opened, air under the lower pressure would have been admitted from the pipe 82, through the valve'passage 85, and the pipe 89 to the cylinder 50 in front ofthe piston, and then the piston would have been' locked against any movement in the cylinder 50. At the same time if the valve B were not 4 closed the high pressure supply circuit from be built up in the cylinder 51. The vent 87- is restricted suiiciently to prevent materialv loss of air from the reservoir but is suiciently large to prevent building up of enough pressure in the cylinder 5,1 to shift the cylinder 50 outwardly. The air escaping through-the vent will warn the operator of her failure to close the valve B and she then immediately does so.

lAs shown in Figure 7 a spring 104 may be connected with the lever 66 of the valve B to hold the valve in either its closed or open position after movement to such position, the stops and 106 limiting the movementof the valve. With this arrangement the valve B remains closed .after closure by the operator and when the toggle mechanism has been set to bring the ironing head down against the buck the operator closes valve A.

During flow of the high pressure air into the cylinder 51 when the valve A is open, such air also flows through the cross connection 98 andthe reducing valve 100 into the cylinder 50 and the pressure behind the piston in this cylinder is gradually builtup to the full pressure in the reservoir and in the cylinder 51 so that the full air pressure is applied to hold the ironing head in ironing cooperation with the buck.

The machine is now ready to beset for the aeration step. For this operation the operator leaves the valve A closed but she returns the valve B to its open position as indicated in Figure 5. The air entrapped in the cylinder 50 will hold the piston 52 out, but the air in cylinder 51 will be vented through the pipes 95 and 88, through the port 86 of the valve B, and to atmosphere through the restricted vent 87, and upon such relie of the pressure cylinder 51, the weight 46 will become effective to retract the toggle mechanism and shift the cylinder structure C back to its normal position, and at the end of such movement the ironing head will have been raised a. distance into aerating position above the buck. 'It will be remembered that as soon as the frame 15 was swung downwardly when the machine was put in operation the switch 34 became effective to close the motor circuit so that the blower became operative to start the circulation of air through the buck. This air under pressure tended to raise or balloon the buck padding, and now when the ironing head has been raised a short distance above the buck, the padding will be ballooned to press the article thereon uniformly against the hot ironing head, and at foo the same time the heated air escapin through the padding Will circulate throng the article to carry away the moisture therefrom and hasten the drying thereoie preparatory for the inal ironing operation.

After the aerat'ng operation the operator moves the valve B back into position to disconnect the cylinder 51 from the vent 87 and shereopens the valve A. so that air under high pressure may again flow into the cylin# der 51 and cause outward shift of the cylinder structure C and movement of the toggle mechanism and frame 15 to bring the ironing head back into the ironing position, the-conditions being now the same as illustrated lby Figure 4, the work on the buck structure bemg given a final ironingand imshing pressure.

Up this time the relieff valve, D has remained closed. When the valves A and B were set for the initial pressure aplication of the ironing. head, as shown in igure4,

after which setting high pressure air flowed' setting was made for the aerating operation,

as indicated in Figure 5, venting of thecylinder 51 also resulted inventing of the timing cylinder 59 through the check valve 103 and pipe 101, and then throu h-the venting path for the cylinder 51. en setting is again made for the final pressure application of the ironing head and the cylinder 51 is again connected with the high pressure air source, the timer cylinder 59 will again receive air and lthis a1r flow continues until the piston rod 61 engages the link V72 and the arm 71 is swung to cause the cam projection 69 to shift the valve stem 70 to'open the valve D to atmosphere. The cylinder will now be relieved vof its air under pressure through the pipes 93, 82 and 97 and through the valve D. Cylinder 51 will be relieved through the pipe 95, cross connection 98, pipe 82, pipe 97 and the vvalve D. Upon relieving of such pressure inthe cylinder, the cylinder and the piston 52 return to their normal positions una f er the influence of the vweight 46, and the toggle structure is retracted and the ironing head is raised backr to its normal position. rlhe timing cylinder 59 vents, as before eX- plained, through the same path that cylinder 51 is relieved through. The piston 61, upon such relief, will move down to its normal position and the weight of the arm 71 and link 72 will rotate the shaft 60 to swing the lever 67 to carry its cam projection 69 away fom the stem so that the valve D may c ose.

For operating the timer cylinder 59 the valve A must remain open until the cylinder has received sufcient air to open the relief valve, but before the relief valve is opened the valve A must be closed in. order to prevent venting of the air reservoir 74 through the relief valve, as indicated in Figure 6. To insure closure'of the valve A before the relief valve opens means are provided for automatically eecting such closure. Referring to Flgures 3 and 6 an arm 107 extending from the shaft 68 has the passageway 109 in its outer end through which extends a rod dependingI from'the lever .65 of valve A, and this rod has an abutment 111 below the arm 107. When the lever is swung up and the valve A is opened this abutment is brought intovppsition closeto the lever 107, as indicated in dotted lines, and then during lthe end of the upper movement' of the piston-rod 61 and swing of the arm 7l to rotate the shaft 68, the arm 107 will swing down and by its engagement with the abutment' 111 it will pull down the rod 110 to restore the valve A to its normal closed position, as indicated in Figure 6. i

p neaaaaa instead of waiting for the opening of the relief valve D by means of the timer cylinder 59, the operator may at any time cause such opening by actuating the hand lever 67 for the valve. Such movement will be independent of the piston rod of the piston 60 downwardly and if the valve A is open it will be closed before the relief valve is opened to atmosphere, thus preventing at any time the draining of the reservoir 74. After the system has been vented and all the parts have returned. to their normal position, the operator moves the valve B back to its normal open position. Asl soon as the ironing head supporting frame 15 is swung back to normal position, the switch 34 opens the motor circuit and the blower stops. f

ln case the operator has both hands busy she may cause opening of the relief valve by operating the treadle mechanism 112 with her foot, this treadle vmechanism then opening a valve 113 which is included in the pipe 114 connecting the reservoir 74 with the timing cylinder 59.

ln thisimproved press, work laid on the ironing buck is irstA given a preliminary application of heat and pressure by the lowered ironing head, the head being then raised slightly to permit the ballooning of the buck A' padding and aeration `of the work and more rapid drying thereof, and then the ironing head is brought -down for the nal ironing to the work, moisture therein is vaporized or turned into steam, and then when the ironing head is raised a distance and its pressure on the padding relieved, thehhot air escaping through the ballooned padding will carry away the vapor and steam and so hasten `the drying of the work preparatory for the inal pressurev and finishing engagement by the ironingfhead.

It is to be understood that, although there is shown and described one practical and eliicient embodiment of the features of my invention, changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the scope and principles of the invention, and it is, therefore, not desired to be limited except as will benecessitated by the prior art.

What is claimed is: c

1. lln an ironingI press of the class described, the combination of an ironing buck,

amovable ironing head for cooperating with y mechanism connecting said movable .piston the buck during such relief.

2. In an ironing press of the class described, the combination of a stationary buck, an ironing head movable relative to the buck, means tending to elevate said head above and away from the buck, a cylinder structure comprising two axially aligned cylinders, a piston for each cylinder, one of said pistons being anchored and said cylinderstructure being bodily movable relative thereto, said other piston being movable in its cylinder, toggle niechanism'connecting between said movable piston and said head, means for conducting iuid under pressure into both of said cylinders whereby said cylinder structure will be bodily moved and said movable piston will be moved, the combined movement being effective on said toggle mechanism to cause said ironing head to be brought 'into ironing pressure engagement with the buck, means Y for relieving the pressure from one only of said cylinders whereby said toggle willbe partially retracted and said ironing head raised a short distance relative to said buck, and means for ventingsaid cylinders to atmosphere to permit return of the cylinder structure and its piston to normal position and retraction of the toggle and return of the f ironing head tonormalposition above the buck.

. means causing 3. In an ironing machine,

`from the other, means ber, means cooperating ironof'iuid under pressure simultaneously into said chambers to cause relative' movement between said pistons and said cylinder structure and movement of said movable element into ironing cooperation with the other ironing member, means for relieving the pressure from only one of said chambers, and means for partially moving said movable element` away from the other element during such pressure release.

45. In an ironing machine of the class demovable toward and tending to move the movable member away from the other, means for actuating said movable member comprisments, one ofwhich is `ing a single cylinder structure having two piston chambers and a piston in each chamfor causing flow of low pressure fluid into one of said chambers and high pressure uid into the other chamber to cause simultaneous relative movement of both pistons and said cylinder structure and movement of said movable member into ironing engagement with the other ironing member, and means for relieving Huid pressure from said high pressure piston chamber only, whereby said actuating means may corre-` spondingly retract and said movable member partially moved away from said other ironing member. e l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name at Illinois, this 13 day of December, 1929. HARRIET'IE ESTELLE REEPS,

scribed, the combination of two ironing elev Chicago, Cook County,

Eeoumm of harles Reeps, Deceased. i

ing elements one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a single cylinder structure having two pistons operable there-` in, means for admitting fluid under pressure into said cylinder to cause simultaneous movement'of both pistons relative to the cyl.-

inder whereby said movable element will be y moved into ironing engagement with the other ironing element, means for relievin onl one o said istons from ressure an y v ber upon such release of 4. In an ironing machine of pressure.

I scribed, the combination of cooperating ironing elements one of which is movable toward an actuating train for and from the other, said movable member, a singlle c linder structure having two cylinder c am ers, a piston operable in each chamber, said cylinder structure and said pistons beingincluded. in said actuating train, means for controlling iiow said movable member to bel partially moved away from the other mem-v the class de-l l 

